Separatist leaders seek UN probe into J&K situation

Three top separatist leaders of Kashmir are jointly collecting signatures of the people of Jammu and Kashmir on a petition for setting up an inquiry commission by the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation in the state.

Hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate Hurriyat Conference head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Mohammad and J&K Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik, who gave a call for a day’s shutdown of the Kashmir valley on Thursday on the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, have sought the probe, endorsing last week’s report of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights (UNHCHR) on the Kashmir situation that was rejected by the Centre as also by the Congress.

“We share the assessment of the report that the situation is extremely serious while at the same time providing us an opportunity to addresses it so as to put to an end such egregious violations,” says the petition.

It claims the people of Kashmir suffer daily violations of their basic human rights; death and destruction have exhausted the most scenic and tranquil location in the world.

“Today, the carefree sounds of children’s laughter have been replaced by the piercing sounds of gunfire. Time is not on the side of the people of Kashmir. More and more atrocities are being committed by the Indian security forces and every day a larger segment of the population becomes alienated.”

“The extent of this tragedy was revealed to the world in January of this year when 8-year old Asifa was abducted, drugged, gang-raped and finally murdered. Those who wanted to conceal this atrocious crime included two sitting ministers of the state government belonging to the BJP. Rape was used as a weapon of war.”